MarkH024

I have an Abu C4 6600 for sale in the flea if you need a reel. I use the Croix mojo rod for 4oz and under swimbaits. I have a premier musky rod if I plan to throw anything bigger. Okuma big bait rod seems to be a popular start up rod in the swimbait world.

Mine are set. Only my froggin and punching drags are a bit tighter than the normal. I never lock any of them down.

Abused it a bit when I played college ball. No longer.

That is a beast!

I've just gotten so used to using it all around that it is just second nature to me now. The sensitivity is the main reason and strength is a bonus. I use the drag as it should be or back reel. I fish heavily weeded lakes 90% of the time. If i was out on a super clear rock/sand bottom lake I'd opt for using the fluoro leader but i'm just not on those bodies of water much. You can always add a leader, but me personally I like braid as my main line for almost everything except crank bait fishing.

I have revisited the article on a few other sites/blogs since then, and I'm not convinced of the original 64" either. Granted, it's a huge fish and I'd be stoked to catch it but I don't think it's what they claimed. Still a fish of a lifetime. Glad it's still swimming.

I use 10# 832 braid...straight.

I guess you didn't read the credits now did you!!!!!!!!!!! j/k man. For punching I was using a 7'1" MH/F St Croix Rage rod with 40# 832. A bit of a light set up for really heavy punching but it gets the job done. The frogging portions I'm using a St.Croix Mojo MH/F with the same 40# 832 braid.

You should be using a search bait to find fish first then slow it down with plastics/jigs or whatever else. Good search baits would be hollowbody swimbaits, spinnerbait, swim jig, squarebill. Once you figure out where they're located, you can start pitching plastics in that area to see if they're stacked up. Cloudy is good...so that is in your favor.

You wont....trust me. Here is a youtube of me earlier in the year punchin/froggin. You can see how hard I set the hook and my rod is perfectly fine. I've gotten LOTS of bass on that rod and I only use it for frogging. Like Weber said..it's nonsense. The other big froggers here will tell you the same thing.

I use a 7' MH/F Croix...which is probably on the verge of a heavy. You're not going to break your H action rod though with 50-65lb braid with normal use. I mean you can but you can break the same rod using 15 or 20lb braid. Most broken rods are due to human error whether anyone wants to believe that or not.

.45 Long Slide with laser sighting.....Uzi 9 milimeter....<terminator voice> All seriousness: I would say a 20 guage for her. It can be hip shot without dismantling her body. Plus you can get tactical kits or add a light, etc... without busting the bank doing it. I think a shotty is the best home defense as the likely hood of hitting or even grazing an intruder is best.

That would be good news. More times than not, it's the other way around! Stopped using Powerbaits but I once used chigger craws all the time. Good little craw bait.

Da Bearrrrrrrsss........Da Hawwwwwwks.......Da Soxxxxxxxxx.........Da Bulllllllllllss (dont really watch bball since the jordan era split)

x2

What kind of rod are you using that you can't detect the strike? Seems like they're having a long time to chomp on that bait which is a great thing for the SK Caffeine shad as they don't want to spit it. Not good that you're gut hooking that many in one outing. I understand it happens and that is part of the sport. I use this bait almost exclusively over Zoom Flukes and never had a problem with normal hook sets. I fish mine on a regular EWG weightless hook. Maybe the rod and line should be your question. Curious to what you're using.

Right around the 4ish mark. Give or take. Really hard to tell fish weights without proper measurements. Great fish either way so congrats to you both! With a sn name like that, I am surprised you have a girlfriend. j/k

Another option would be to start making friends with a guy who own's a boat and can put you in the back. Throw in gas money, snacks and drinks and usually a guy would be happy to have you along for that.

Nice man. I have one but haven't thrown it. Next time I'm out ill have to put the Koppers down and give it a try.

I picked up 2 from Speedbead. Really nice baits with a tight action. Paint and detail is very good.

You're making it more of an issue than it is. Once you set it, you'll forget it. Should only take one or two times to figure your brakes out.

Calcutta. If not I have a C4 6600 I can part with. Save cash for some nice swimbaits.

Nice Steve. Quality jigs produce quality fish!

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That will change once you start getting blow up's on them. Throw them in lower light conditions nice steady retrieve or sometimes you really have to burn them. Weed edges or inbetween weed mats are great places to start. Run them past stumps/dead wood in the water. Once you hook up on topwater, you're going to want more.